How many days can an anal fissure heal?

Written by Chen Tian Jing

Colorectal Surgery

Updated on November 23, 2024

00:00

00:00

Mild anal fissures or those with shallow cracks can generally heal within about a week through local heat application or by applying hemorrhoid cream. However, there is another type of anal fissure known as chronic anal fissure. Chronic anal fissures primarily involve ulcer-like infectious changes at the local site, hence, they cannot heal on their own and can only be alleviated by lubricating the stools and applying hemorrhoid cream locally. In some cases, conservative treatment might not be significantly effective for chronic anal fissures. If surgery is performed, the recovery time is approximately 20 days. It is recommended that patients with chronic anal fissures undergo surgical treatment with endoscopic loosening.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by He Cai Dong

Colorectal Surgery Department

1min 4sec

home-news-image

What is the best treatment for anal fissure polyps?

In medical terms, an anal tag is known as a sentinel pile, which is simply a common external hemorrhoid. It results from prolonged non-healing anal fissures and repeated local inflammatory irritation, leading to tissue hyperplasia. The only way to remove the anal tag is through surgical removal, as medications alone cannot cure it. It is advisable to maintain a light diet, drink plenty of water, and consume lots of vegetables and fruits to keep bowel movements regular and soft, which can help reduce the occurrence of anal fissures. During flare-ups, one should avoid consuming beef, lamb, seafood, and other potentially irritating foods, and avoid prolonged sitting or standing. If stools are dry, products such as hemp seed pills, lactulose oral solution, and polyethylene glycol 4000 can be used to effectively soften the stools and alleviate symptoms of anal fissures. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

home-news-image

Written by Wang Ji Zhong

Internal Medicine

59sec

home-news-image

Will anal fissures cause bleeding?

As the name suggests, an anal fissure is a condition where the anal canal splits open, forming small ulcers. These splits run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the anal canal and are typically spindle-shaped or oval. They often cause severe perianal pain. The classic clinical signs of an anal fissure include pain, bleeding during bowel movements, and constipation. Thus, anal fissures do bleed, characterized by spotting of blood during defecation or blood on tissue after bowel movements. The blood is usually bright red. The amount of bleeding relates to the depth and size of the fissure but generally does not present as heavy or spurting bleeding like with hemorrhoids, and significant bleeding is rare. The bleeding from an anal fissure can also recur periodically. Therefore, it is important to seek timely medical treatment at a hospital to ensure effective therapy and early recovery.

home-news-image

Written by Yu Xu Chao

Colorectal Surgery

1min 5sec

home-news-image

Can you have intercourse during an anal fissure?

During an anal fissure, it is possible to have sexual intercourse without any impact on the fissure itself. For patients with an anal fissure, the main focus should be on maintaining smooth bowel movements and avoiding dry and hard stools to prevent irritating the wound, which can cause pain and bleeding. It is also important to avoid diarrhea, as frequent bowel movements can irritate the wound over time and worsen the fissure. Clinically, for early-stage anal fissures, conservative treatment with medications is often recommended, along with softening the stool. Commonly used medications include Dragon Balm ointment or nitroglycerin ointment. After defecation, patients can opt to use an anal wash or a potassium permanganate solution for sitz baths. However, for chronic anal fissures, it is generally advised to undergo fissure excision surgery as soon as possible, followed by regular dressing changes to promote healing of the wound. If an anal fissure is left untreated for a long time, it can lead to slight narrowing of the anal canal, which requires significant attention.

home-news-image

Written by Hu Xiang Dang

Colorectal Surgery Department

1min 1sec

home-news-image

What is an anal fissure?

What is an anal fissure? In clinical practice, we often encounter patients asking this question. An anal fissure is a crack in the skin around the anal canal; simply put, it is a split in the skin at the anus. The direction of the split aligns with the direction of the anal skin's folds. Of course, not all cracks in the anal skin are called anal fissures. It is only considered an anal fissure if there is a full-thickness split in the skin at the anus. If it is a superficial skin split, it is referred to as an anal skin laceration or fissuring, such as those caused by certain anal itching diseases, which are in fact fissures in the anal skin. Anal fissures commonly occur at the “anterior and posterior midline” of the anus, which is similar to the directions of 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock as described on a clock face. Doctors often describe these as positions at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock.

home-news-image

Written by Yu Xu Chao

Colorectal Surgery

1min 13sec

home-news-image

The differences between stages one, two, and three of anal fissures.

In clinical practice, anal fissures are not categorized into stages one, two, or three; they are primarily classified as either acute or chronic anal fissures. Acute anal fissures, which occur in the early stages of the condition, are characterized by pain during defecation and minor bleeding. For such cases, the pain usually doesn’t last long, and conservative treatment with medication can be chosen. Topical applications such as dragon's pearl ointment or nitroglycerin ointment are generally used. It is also important to keep the anal region dry and clean, perhaps by using anal washes for sitz baths, while ensuring that the stool is soft to maintain smooth bowel movements. Chronic anal fissures, on the other hand, are mainly due to the development of scars on the ulcer surface. This condition involves prolonged pain and may include some narrowing of the anus. In such cases, surgical excision of the fissure may be necessary. Post-surgery treatment may include changing dressings with medications like red oil gauze strips, golden ointment, and anal washes. (Under the guidance of a doctor for medication use)